How to keep your cyclamens flowering for longer!

Cyclamens are a favourite and their dainty blooms bring a touch of romance to any garden or indoor space.
- byCarna Feldtmann

11 Oct
2016

Carna Feldtmann

They aren’t fussy plants to keep, but they do require some basic care and maintenance which can promote flowering all the way through winter and into spring. The florists’ cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum, is commonly grown for indoor decoration, but many of the smaller species such as Cyclamen hederifolium are ideal for the outdoors. And there’s an array of jewel colours to choose from such as fuchsia, ruby red, pastel pink, white, mauve and purple! Here’s how to care for them through to next season and keep them flowering for longer!

Carna Feldtmann

How to grow it

Climate Despite being native to the islands of the Mediteranean, the modern day cyclamens thrive in cool temperatures. Avoid humid conditions when keeping them indoors as this promotes disease.

Aspect Choose dappled light such as on a patio or verandah. In the garden, they do well planted in the shade of other shrubs.

Soil They require a well-drained soil.

Water Water regularly during the growing season and avoid watering the leaves directly or the corm (that large tuber-like structure on the soil’s surface) as this can encourage fungal disease. Instead, keep them moist by watering in a tray and allowing the roots to take up the water.

Carna Feldtmann

Pruning When your plant has finished flowering, remove yellow leaves and spent flowers. Take special care to remove the stem by pinching and at the same time twisting gently to ensure no damage is done to the core.

Fertiliser Feed prior to flowering with a liquid, flower-promoting fertiliser. While in bloom, keep the root ball moist and fertilise every 2 weeks.

Re-potting During summer cyclamens are dormant so place in a shady spot in the garden or indoors depending on the variety you are planting. When they start to show the signs of new growth in January they are ready to be re-potted.